MEXICO has suffered with the rest of the world from the global crisis of recession and inflation — all the more so given its close ties with the US.

The surprise is that its economic indices are somewhat better than those of its hegemonic neighbour, and the Mexican peso has actually appreciated slightly against the US dollar (19.59 pesos to the dollar on November 2, when a few weeks prior it was 21 pesos to the dollar).

The president of Santander banking group, Ana Botin, declared that Mexico’s anti-inflation strategy was better than that of most European countries.

A key factor in this is that Mexico’s energy inflation is the lowest of all Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. This because over the past four years President Amlo has restored national control of oil, gas and electricity and prioritised supply, preventing market speculation.

Inflation is still an issue, with an overall rate of 8.5 per cent, mainly caused by food prices since the country is still far from agricultural self-sufficiency; 30 years of neoliberalism have undermined the resilience of traditional peasant community agriculture.

Amlo’s programmes to promote agroforestry such as the Sowing Life project, public investment to promote fertiliser production and subsidised fertiliser distribution for small and medium producers are helping, but much more is needed.

But overall, public investment in social welfare — pensions, apprenticeships, scholarships, housing, education — and infrastructure has maintained demand and employment more effectively than in many countries.

The ban on outsourcing has helped increase formal employment — the Mexican Social Security Institute registered a historic record of 21.5 million workers enrolled in October. Real minimum wage increases have also helped.

These successes give Mexico leverage with Washington: stability and growth in its southern neighbour make it difficult for the US to object to Amlo’s nationalisation of lithium and of most of the energy sector.

Indeed, a high-level delegation led by John Kerry recently held talks with Amlo and key members of his cabinet in the north-west state of Sonora, where public enterprise (in collaboration with Bolivia, no less) will develop lithium batteries for new investment in the motor industry; Ford and other companies may be interested.

Mexico also has plans for the biggest solar energy plant in Latin America in the Sonora desert. This, together with new irrigation systems for both subsistence farming and commercial agriculture for the indigenous Yaqui communities who have just had 30,000 hectares of land restored by Amlo’s government, is a model of sustainable development in the border area. The Yaqui Justice Plan includes technical assistance, schools with bilingual education, health clinics and a university.

As always, Amlo has in recent days been scathing in his condemnation of the US blockade of Cuba; he also continues to call for peace and for a negotiated settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war. His delight at Lula’s victory in Brazil was unbounded and expressed immediately in a personal phone call.

On the domestic front also, the president is more and more outspoken against his critics and determined to complete his transformational agenda in the one year and 10 months he has left.

He is pushing ahead with plans for constitutional reform of the electoral system, with thorough reorganisation of the corrupt and bloated electoral institute, and confirmation of the National Guard as the main instrument of public security under military supervision.

He is determined to complete the ambitious 1,500km Maya Train, probably the biggest single railway project in the world at the moment, serving local communities and Mayan culture as well as tourists and business throughout the neglected south-east.

Last but certainly not least, his government is working full time on developing the public health system throughout the country to create a true “Mexican NHS,” free, universal and of high quality.

A surprising recognition of these advances just came from Reuters news agency in a tweet: “The most historic legacy of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a left-leaning resource nationalist who casts his administration as a turning point in the annals of Mexico, may pave the way for the country’s first woman leader.”

The reference is to Claudia Sheinbaum, metro mayor of greater Mexico City, who is indeed one of the most likely pre-candidates for the Morena nomination for the 2024 presidential elections — although Amlo is scrupulous in avoiding endorsing any candidate.

Analysing Amlo: Mexico under Lopez Obrador will take place on November 9 at 7pm on Zoom — sign up at www.alborada.net/events.

David Raby is a retired academic and independent researcher on Latin America. He can be reached at rabylda@riseup.net and on Twitter @DLRaby.